Swine flu, Balloon Boy, Michael Jackson, Iran, and Cash for Clunkers.
At least there were some cool beats.
For our end of the year Beat Drop, we asked our friends to pick their favorite beats of 2009. Part 1 featured artists; today we have everyone else.
Sphere: Related ContentSo, what have we learned in 2009?
Raekwon is more trustworthy than Dr. Dre. No one believed either of ’em when we were told that Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II and Detox would drop in our lifetimes (R.I.P. to those that didn’t make it long enough), but Rae played the role of the tortoise, creeping upon the finish line, while Dre continues to stroll, seemingly uncommitted as to whether his magnum opus will live up to the hype. In the meantime, we have a handful of average-quality sounding reference tracks (with a surprising amount of T.I.), a Dr. Pepper commercial featuring a beat that may make Detox (though, it has already been utilized by Wale and Rick Ross & Birdman), and some $300 headphones (to enhance the listening experience of music that actually sees the light of day).
Albums don’t matter anymore. At least, that’s one rationale as to why Eminem is not one of MTV’s 10 hottest MCs (despite selling 600K of Relapse, his first release in five years, in its first week), omitted in exchange for several MCs who either did not drop albums this year (Weezy, Jeezy and Yeezy) or dropped mediocre-at-best albums (Fab). (Sorry if I’m downplaying the “heat” of Katie Couric interviews and Taylor Swift speech interruptions. Also sorry if I’m implying that MTV’s list has that much credibility.)
Not even 50 Cent can sell records in today’s industry — and this is the same 50 Cent that once sold Curtis to the buying public! Maybe it’s time to redefine “flop” — not that we ever had a Webster’s definition for it — because if 50 flopped, then what do you call Wale’s first week numbers? That’s not a diss, either — I like Wale a lot, and ML’s been tracking his career since 100 Miles & Running back in ’07. In fact, the only reason I don’t have a physical copy of Attention Deficit nearby as I type (I had to resort to iTunes) is because I couldn’t find one on any Best Buy store shelves — though, for whatever it’s worth, the Best Buy employee who told me that they didn’t have any copies also told me that it was dope (I should’ve asked him where he copped his copy).
Gucci Mane is a rap star. I never would have imagined this based on his first two videos — to me, he was just another terrible rapper from the South with no charisma. Now, he’s a pretty good rapper with, well, a little charisma. Good enough, I guess.
Rappers continue to diss Jay-Z and get no response. Game put out a diss record, which was kind of sad (in a lame, pathetic sort of way). Beanie Sigel put out a diss record, which was also kind of sad (in a “doesn’t feel right” sort of way). 50’s been trying to bait Jay for a while, but to no avail — The Blueprint 3 didn’t have a “Takeover”, let alone a half-a-bar for everyone to share. The only rapper to get a response record from Jay in the last few years? Jim Jones. That may be what’s the most sad about all of this.
And, last but not least, the following beats are dope…
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Creature offers his CDs to passersby free of charge on 6th Avenue between 8th Street and 9th Street. “Do you like hip-hop?” he asks. If you say yes, he might tell you about how he appeared on Viktor Vaughn’s 2003 album Vaudeville Villain on the song “Open Mic Nite, Part 2.” And if you take one of his homemade CDs, he’ll ask for “a modest donation” in return.
An underground rap artist, Creature peddles his music on compact disc, a format made commercially available in October 1982. But in the independent record store upstairs, the walls are coated with vinyl records, a format which rose to dominance 40 years prior.
According to Nielsen SoundScan data, vinyl records posted record breaking sales numbers on November 8. Two million records were sold, which is 37% more than at the same time last year, and the most since Nielsen began tracking vinyl sales in 1991.
“Not in our market,” scoffed DJ Eclipse who oversees retail at Fat Beats, an independent record store specializing in hip-hop.
Even though vinyl plays an integral role in hip-hop production and DJing, Fat Beats has not enjoyed a share of the surge in vinyl sales. Music industry experts predict vinyl will play a significant role in the recording industry while hip-hop fans and record collectors don’t foresee vinyl expanding beyond a niche audience of audiophiles and enthusiasts.
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Black Milk plans on releasing three albums in 2010. Random Axe, his collaboration with Sean Price and Guilty Simpson; Searching for Sanity with singer Melanie Rutherford; and Album of the Year, his next solo album.
He previews material from all three in this video.
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Here’s a new joint off Radio (Remix), the project that pairs underground artists with beats from Exile’s instrumental album Radio. Exile continues to stand apart with a completely unique sound and a team of rappers that includes some serious talent.
Last I heard, J. Mitchell was doing her funky thing with “Your Summer Song.”
Here’s the latest of many collaborations between Statik Selektah and Talib Kweli. We last heard them together on the song that was supposed to be the single for Statik’s album 100 Proof (The Hangover).
Also check out “Jaded” and “Do What I Believe” off The Pre-Game EP and also our glorious interview with Statik Selektah.
via okayplayer
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Joell once again demonstrates his ability to rap circles around most any rapper.
The real standouts are “Make It Without You” where Ortiz pays an emotional tribute to his grandmother who passed away and “Stalker” where he tells the story of a woman dealing with a stalker with excruciating detail. It’s great when he bodies “Run This Town” or “World Tour,” but it’s the more creative songs like these that set Ortiz apart from the masses of battle rappers.
Much like his last mixtape, Road Kill is an entertaining listen if you don’t mind being verbally berated for an hour.
via OnSMASH
Track list after the jump
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You wouldn’t think it by looking at her, but Eternia has more in common with Torae and Blaq Poet than Lauryn Hill. She’s not as violent or profane as her fellow boom bappers, but every bit as abrasive and perhaps a better lyricist.
Get Caught Up rounds up tracks Eternia has recorded since 2000. The result is anything but cohesive, but a great introduction to a talented MC.
Eternia’s upcoming album with producer MoSS can only be good. Entitled At Last, the project drops next year.
Don’t sleep on her track with J.J. Brown either.
Track list / liner notes after the jump.
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Even thought I posted a Count Bass track just hours ago, this instrumental deserves its own post. He loops a beautiful vocal sample and dirties it up with a chant of “Bass D.” I could listen to this forever.
via Culture King
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The saying “raw hip-hop” gets thrown around a lot, but that’s exactly what Strong Arm Steady’s In Search of Stoney Jackson is. J.Rocc let SAS pick from 200 Madlib beats and they unloaded their rhyme books over them.
You cannot overlook an album produced by Madlib, period.
The album is available on Stones Throw’s website and will be available everywhere else on January 26.
Shit, even the cover is dope.
via Nah Right
Previously: “Get Started” x “Loose Girl”
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